Sheriff and DA to run again

Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff and District Attorney Jim Farrell announced that they will again run for office this year. It will be the third term for Schiff and the second for Farrell.

At the standing-room-only announcement at Mr. Willy’s restaurant on March 8, both candidates ticked off a list of accomplishments.

Schiff noted that his administration started a gang and drug intelligence unit, which he said is crucial in dealing with the current issues of burglaries, drugs and gangs that he said are all connected. He said, “If we don’t go after the people who use drugs, and force them to get help because, at that point, they’re sick, if we don’t try to dry this up, there are going to be more victims, more burglaries and assaults. It’s an endless cycle.”

He also talked about money-saving measures his office as taken, such as purchasing laundry equipment at the jail and having the trustees handle the laundry cleaning, which has saved the department about $100,000 per year.

Farrell also spoke about his law enforcement efforts. He said, “We took on guns head on. Gang members who brought violence to our streets are now serving decades in state prison.” He also noted that he had prosecuted people who carried illegal weapons and sent them to jail as the law allows.

Both candidates were introduced by Dick Coombs, chair of the Sullivan County Republican party, and both were endorsed by Republican Congressman Chris Gibson, who took to the podium for a few moments.

Gibson said, “When I think about Mike and Jim, the first thing that comes to mind is integrity. Every time I’ve been with these gentlemen I’ve gotten the good, the bad and the ugly. And we need that; we need a level of candor that allows us to focus on improving our position.”

It’s not clear whom Farrell and Schiff might be facing on the Democratic ticket this year as those candidates have not yet been announced.